Officer names in Saturday immolation death released

COLUMBUS — The names of the Baxter Springs Police officers injured in Saturday’s home invasion in Baxter Springs have been released.

According to Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves, Officer Jimmy Hamilton, who was first into the house remains in a Springfield, Missouri, hospital, but was reported to be in “good spirits” by Groves. Officers Justin Butler and Darryl Nadeau were treated and released at Freeman Hospital in Joplin.

The three were injured in a home invasion which ended in the death by immolation of Sharon Horn, 65, of Baxter Springs.

Horn died just before 7 a.m. Saturday at a Springfield hospital.

Horn’s injuries were sustained after a man entered her home and allegedly began assaulting her, ultimately setting her and two Baxter Springs Police Officers on fire.

A third officer, along with the suspect, also sustained injuries during the incident, which occurred just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

The suspect, who has not been named pending formal charges, remains hospitalized.

Initially the call came in as a domestic disturbance, but investigators have since determined the victim and suspect were acquaintances, but not involved in a domestic relationship.

As officers arrived, the male suspect allegedly threw fuel on Horn, Hamilton, and Butler, catching them on fire.

Nadeau then arrived and attempted to extinguish the fire, also sustaining injuries.

Emergency medical personnel transported the victim, suspect and Hamilton to a Springfield Missouri Hospital. The incident is under investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office.